New Jersey · Mechanical Engineering

Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in New Jersey

Ranked by graduate earnings

Princeton University, Stevens Institute of Technology and Rutgers University - New Brunswick are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Princeton University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,328, College Scorecard. Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers University - New Brunswick and New Jersey Institute of Technology award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in New Jersey: 277, 206 and 174 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 New Jersey colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 894 degrees and certificates a year in all.

Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic field that focuses on the study of physical machines and mechanisms, emphasizing force and movement. This program is designed for students interested in applying principles of engineering physics,…

Institutions
7
offering CIP 14.19
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
894
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$68,675
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,059
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
78%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Engineers
$116,640
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Princeton University
Princeton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$85,3289298%$13,729—
2Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$77,92527787%$34,827$26,520
3Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick Public · Bachelor's degree
$71,56920684%—$23,250
4New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark Public · Bachelor's degree
$68,67517473%—$23,334
5Rowan University
Glassboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$66,9099367%—$22,500
6The College of New Jersey
Ewing Public · Bachelor's degree
$65,7613786%—$22,875

Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in New Jersey

Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken Private not-for-profit
277$77,925
2Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick Public
206$71,569
3New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark Public
174$68,675
4Rowan University
Glassboro Public
93$66,909
5Princeton University
Princeton Private not-for-profit
92$85,328
6The College of New Jersey
Ewing Public
37$65,761
7Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck Private not-for-profit
15Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.1%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~18,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$102,320
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingScienceMathematicsActive Learning

What Mechanical Engineers earn in New Jersey

Jobs in New Jersey
4,180
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$116,640
median $112,300
Best-paying metro
$109,380
Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Related careers

Cost Estimators
$89,600 avg · 5,240 jobs
Mechanical Engineers
$116,640 avg · 4,180 jobs
Aerospace Engineers
$131,410 avg · 3,400 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in New Jersey.

Which New Jersey colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+

Stevens Institute of Technology (277 graduates a year), Rutgers University - New Brunswick (206 graduates a year) and New Jersey Institute of Technology (174 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 New Jersey colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.

What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in New Jersey?+

By graduate earnings, Princeton University leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,328, College Scorecard. Stevens Institute of Technology and Rutgers University - New Brunswick follow. By degrees awarded, Stevens Institute of Technology is the largest, with 277 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Mechanical Engineering program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Princeton University tops the list at $85,328. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in New Jersey?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in New Jersey is $116,640 (median $112,300), across about 4,180 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Mechanical Engineering program?+

Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic field that focuses on the study of physical machines and mechanisms, emphasizing force and movement. This program is designed for students interested in applying principles of engineering physics,…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, science, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Mechanical Engineers?+

The national job outlook is about +9.1% growth with around 18,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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